Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Grown-ups' films this fall...

Screw Bruce Willis, Harry Potter and Optimus Prime! I'm salivating for American Gangster, coming this Fall. Based on crime boss Frank Lucas, with a little sprinkling of Nicky Barnes, both of them almost untoucheable heroin kingpins in 1970s Harlem. All star cast--hell, Ridley Scott directing, Nicholas Pileggi ("Wiseguy" author--Scorsese made it into "GoodFellas")...this just may out-Wire "The Wire," and make "The Departed" look like the "Birdcage." Mi comadre and fellow Baltomoron now Brooklynite, author/Vibe magazine/XXL reporter Mike Gonzales, relayed this to me as an addendum: New York Magazine article that inspired the screenplay. Lucas (Denzel's character) claims to have grossed $1million dollars a day from heroin sales in Harlem. His claim to fame, or infamy if you may, is how he procured his drugs. The Return Of Superfly: By Mark Jacobson

You are going to find this interesting. As a young pup in the USCG, I had some friends in Interdiction working out of New York Harbor and Moriches on Long Island who new about these "gentlemen" operating in Harlem. Their relationship with La Cosa Nostra was stormy as best.

I am hoping there is a balance so as not to glorify the Lucas character; however, if done correctly, it will show things factually and without filters. One of my favorite films is Gladiator and one of my favorite actors is Russell Crowe. Denzel Washington's prowess is legendary. Seeing them together like this, with Ridley Scott at the con makes me wish fall would come sooner (and this heat and humidity would leave!).

Chiwetel. The C-word. My wife's favorite actor. Lawd, even playing a drag queen in "Kinky Boots," he illicits a swoon from her! I caught her weeping for him in the "Tsunami" movie on HBO. I had to impose a Chiwetel moratorium...

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About Me

Jack of all trades, master of none; Professor, Georgetown University Journalism MPS; author of the Angela Bivens series of mystery novels, two anthologies, published short fiction and comic books, including a graphic anthology. Voyeur of media pundits; resident pundit on American Culture, race, media & politics for Russia Today. Contributor--MSNBC's the Grio and The Root.com. Movie lover. Proud Princeton booster. Bourbon drinker. Faculty: University of Maryland/UMUC. Married. Lovingly faithful, yet always pulling the flirts even though I am old, mean and out of shape. Must be my pheromones...

A rare DC native, Christopher Chambers was born at Old Freedman’s Hospital at Howard University in the Nation’s Capital, and was raised at 1607 D Street NE when RFK Stadium was still just a vacant lot. He moved to Brooklyn NY and finally Baltimore, Maryland. He attended public schools in Baltimore City and County before attending the McDonogh School in Owings Mills, MD.

Mr. Chambers is an honors graduate of Princeton University and the University of Baltimore School of Law, where he was the first African American in the Law Review. Mr. Chambers served with the US Justice Department from 1994-1997, and taught English, Business Law and Communications at Queens University in Charlotte from 2000-2001. Now he’s lecturer in writing at University of Maryland, University College, and a Professor at Georgetown University’s/SCS Master's Program in Journalism. Mr. Chambers led panels writing, politics/culture, andwas keynote at Georgetown University’s Father Healy Dinner along with NBA Star Dikembe Mtumbo.